A study found insured patients reduced their use of screening colonoscopy from December 2007-June 2009 compared to the two years before the recession began, according to findings published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Using data from 106 health plans, researchers determined monthly rates of screening colonoscopies on patients ages 50-64 from January 2005-November 2007 and December 2007-June 2009. They found screening colonoscopy rates decreased by 68.9 colonoscopies per 1 million individuals per month during the recession, resulting in approximately 500,000 fewer screening colonoscopies during the two-year period. They also found patients with higher out-of-pocket costs had lower rates of screening before and during the recession and had a larger decrease in screening rates during the recession.
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Using data from 106 health plans, researchers determined monthly rates of screening colonoscopies on patients ages 50-64 from January 2005-November 2007 and December 2007-June 2009. They found screening colonoscopy rates decreased by 68.9 colonoscopies per 1 million individuals per month during the recession, resulting in approximately 500,000 fewer screening colonoscopies during the two-year period. They also found patients with higher out-of-pocket costs had lower rates of screening before and during the recession and had a larger decrease in screening rates during the recession.
Related Articles on Colorectal Cancer Screening:
Study: Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Increases Colorectal Cancer Detection
Study: Colorectal Cancer Screening Most Likely Preventive Service to be Completed
Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Significantly Lower Than 2020 Target of 70.5%